Retail industry

Catering for the rising cost of US democracy

Article Abstract:

Candidates for the 1998 Congressional elections had raised $331 million in the 15 months to the end of Mar 1998, according to the Centre for Responsive Politics, up by 10% on the same period before the last elections. Political parties now need vast sums of money to fight an election effectively, mainly because they must invest heavily in television advertising. The business community is the most significant source of funds among groups and organizations, with almost two-thirds of business donations going to the Republican party.

Let's not talk about sex

Article Abstract:

There are very mixed views in the US about the public presentation of sex. The US sometimes comes across as very moralistic, with strong reactions to the public presentation of any sex-related material. At other times, it appears to go to the opposite extreme, deriving considerable pleasure from lewdness. Religious values are very important to many Americans, but pornography is a very extensive industry in the US. It appears that the country's Puritan heritage has prevented it coming to terms with sex.